Lesser Adjutants (Leptoptilos javanicus) The Lesser Adjutants (Leptoptilos javanicus) - also known as Lesser Adjutant Storks or Hair-crested Adjutants - are large wading birds that occur naturally in South and South-east Asia. These birds are generally solitary - except when breeding at which time they will form loose nesting colonies. They are members of the stork family and related to the Greater Adjutants . They were named "Adjutant" by British Colonial troops based on their slow and stiff "military" gait and their habit of standing motionless for long periods of time reminiscent of officers (or "Adjutants") standing at attention. Distribution / Habitat Lesser Adjutants are mostly sedentary within their range, except for local movements in response to rain falls and availability of food. The Lesser Adjutants occur naturally in: India (with the largest populations being found in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar), Indonesia (mostly in Sumatra), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Thailand. May occur as a vagrant in Bhutan. Formerly occurred, but believed to be extinct in: China, Singapore.

Habitat: They are generally found along large rivers, lakes, swamps, as well as in fresh and saltwater wetland and wooded areas. Coastal populations occur in mangroves and intertidal flats. Status: Previously quite common, their numbers are declining due to destruction of their habitats and harvesting of their eggs and chicks. These storks are now quite rare throughout their range. Yvetta Pokorny, WCS senior keeper at the Bronx Zoo Bird Department provides the following information on this endangered species: "[I] have the privilege to take care of a group of Lesser Adjutant Storks on a daily basis. Among daily routine feeding and cleaning we study their behavior and collect data trying to get as much information and knowledge as possible ... Sadly this species of Storks are on the decline - there are only a few thousand birds in the world left mostly in South East Asia. We realized that only a program aimed to protect their nesting sites and habitats can save them from extinction. Lesser Adjutants do not breed in captivity on a regular basis, and we are the only place where a generation of LA Storks has been successfully born and raised in captivity.

By collecting data and observations we are able to pass the knowledge onto rangers in the field and support our conservation program in South East Asia launched by Wildlife Conservation Society." Please visit her Adjutant webpage for more information. Description Lesser Adjutants stand about 43 - 51 inches (110-129 cm) tall, have a wingspan of about 83 inches (210 cm) and weigh about 19.6 lbs (8.9 kg). Their large outstretched wings are perfectly adapted for soaring on thermals. They have pale, long and thick bills. The upper body and wings are glossy dark grey-black and the underside (chest, abdomen and undertail feathers) are white. The neck and head are mostly featherless(except for a few scattered hair-like feathers) and mostly yellowish in color with a wine-red tinge to the sides of the head and pale forehead. Breeding birds have reddish faces and orange necks, as well as coppery spots on the middle wing feathers (median coverts), with narrow whitish edges to the lower "shoulder feathers" (scapulars), and wings.

Their dark grey legs are often stained white with uric acid as they commonly defecate on them. This is believed to be a cooling measure, as the evaporation lowers their body temperature offering relief when temperatures are uncomfortably high. Gender ID: Males and females look alike; except males tend to be larger in size and heavier billed. Juveniles resemble the adults; except they are duller versions with a less glossy upper body and wings. They also have more feathers around the neck. Similar Species: In flight, Adjutants can be distinguished from other storks by the fact that they retract their necks in flight - like herons , for example, while most other stork species fly with their necks outstretched. The Lesser Adjutant could only be confused with the Greater Adjutant . However, the Lesser Adjutant is smaller in size and lacks the pendulous neck pouch seen in the Greater Adjutant . This being said, in flight the Lesser Adjutant's folded (retracted) neck can appear like a pouch, possibly resulting in confusion with the Greater Adjutant . The latter also has more massive bill with a straight upper bill edge (culmen), paler head sides, and pale grey greater wing feathers.

Breeding / Nesting Lesser Adjutants are believed to be monogamous - however, they may not always pair for life. Typically solitary birds, they only form groups during the breeding season. Lesser Adjutants breed during the dry season, which varies geographically. In southern India, they breed from February to May and in northeastern India from November to January. At the onset of the breeding season, Lesser Adjutants congregate at nesting areas in suitable wetlands. They often form small, loose colonies - sometimes including other large waterbirds, such as Pelicans - and several of them will build their nest in the canopy of one single, tall, broad-limbed trees with sparse foliage. Prior to nest building, they will occupy favored trees and males will claim suitable nesting branches, chasing away competitors. At this time, they are commonly seen perching on the branch pointing their bill upwards while clattering them; arching their bodies or holding their wings half open and drooped. Males will present twigs to their mates as part of the courtship ritual. Pairs will also perform up-down bobbing motions together.

The large platform nest is constructed by both parents out of twigs with an outer layer of bamboo stems, and the shallow top indentation is lined with grasses and leaves. The nest is placed at the end of a near-horizontal branch. Historically, they have been recorded to nest on cliffs. Their nests are, on average, about 3.3 feet (1 meter) in diameter and up to 3.3 feet (1 meter) deep. The female will lay 1 - 4 (mostly 3) white eggs at intervals of 1 - 3 days. Both parents share the incubation of the eggs for about 28 - 30 days to hatching. The hatchlings are covered with thin grey down and they are brooded for about 12 - 14 days; after the first week, the amount of time spent brooding them decreases gradually. Both parents feed and care for the chicks. During hot weather, they are observed spreading out their wings to shade the chicks. They will also bring water to the nestlings - either for drinking or to cool them down. The young fledge when they are about 47 - 52 days old and are independent when they are about 5 months old.

They breed once a year, although clutches may be replaced if the first one was destroyed. Diet / Feeding Lesser Adjutants are often observed stalking around wetlands as they search for prey, such as fish, frogs, reptiles, locust and large invertebrates. Young birds, rodents and carrion (dead animals) are also eaten. The bald head and neck of these scavengers become rapidly covered with blood and other substances as they feed inside corpses. As distasteful as this may appear to most, these valuable scavengers of carrion are believed to play an important role in preventing the spread of disease. Calls / Vocalizations Lesser Adjutants are mostly silent as they lack vocal muscles; however, they have been observed clattering their bills (males, in particular, as they advertise and protect their territories), and also making hissing and moaning sounds. Other (Global) Names Chinese: 秃鹳 ... Czech: Marabu indomalajský ... Danish: Lille Adjudant ... Dutch: Javaanse Maraboe ... Estonian: väikemarabu ... Finnish: Pikkumarabu ...

French: Marabout chevelu, Marabout d'Asie, Petit Marabout ... German: Kleiner Adjutant, Malaienstorch, Sunda-Marabu ... Indonesian: Bangau tongtong ... Italian: Marabu minore, Marabù minore, Marabù minore asiatico ... Japanese: kohagekou ... Malay: Botak Kecil ... Norwegian: Småadjutant ... Polish: marabut jawajski ... Russian: зондский марабу, малый адъютант, Малый марабу, Марабу яванский, Яванский Марабу ... Slovak: marabu malý ... Spanish: Marabú Javanés, Marabú Menor ... Swedish: Mindre adjutantstork ... Thai: นกตะกรุม ... Vietnamese: Già đẫy giava Relevant Web Resources Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) Stork General Info ...

Photos of the Different Members of the Stork Family for Identification The Greater Adjutants (Leptoptilos dubius) are also known as Greater Adjutant Storks or, simply, Adjutants. Historically, they were referred to as Gigantic Cranes and, later, as the Asiatic Marabous. They were named "Adjutant" by British Colonial troops based on their slow and stiff "military" gait and their habit of standing motionless for long periods of time reminiscent of officers (or "Adjutants") standing at attention. These large members of the stork family are related to the Lesser Adjutants . The longest recorded lifespan in captivity was 43 years. Distribution The Greater Adjutants formerly bred in southern Asia from Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka east to Borneo. However, they have become extinct over much of their range due to destruction of nesting habitat and feeding sites, hunting for the use of their meat in folk medicine, and egg collection. Less than 1,000 of them are still believed to occur in the wild.

Only two small breeding populations are still reported to be in existence: the largest colony in the Indian province of Assam (in the Brahmaputra Valley) - a northeastern state of India - and the other being found in Cambodia. In the 19th century, they were particularly common in the city of Calcutta during the summer and rainy season, where they were known as "Calcutta Adjutants". At that time, they were valued as scavengers - which benefitted the City's sanitation - and their image was incorporated in the logo of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. After the breeding season, they migrate south to Vietnam, Thailand and Burma (Myanmar) for the winter. Habitat Greater Adjutants inhabit wetland habitats, especially those that are partially dry and where fish are abundant, such as marshes, lakes, swamps, mangroves, river beds, stagnant pools and paddy fields; as well as grasslands and fields. They also disperse to scavenge at rubbish dumps, slaughter houses and burial grounds, often near human settlements. Status This bird species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List 2007.

Description This large storks stand 47 - 60 inches (120 - 152 cm) tall (the average being 54 inches or 136 cm), and have a wingspan of about 98 inches (250 cm). Their mass is unknown in the wild, but they are believed to be the heaviest of all storks . Their heads are bare (except for a few stray, hair-like feathers) and pinkish in color; and they have distinctive low-hanging neck pouches that differentiate them from the related, similar looking Lesser Adjutant . The inflatable pouch is not connected to the digestive tract. Its function was previously believed to be for food storage, but since this pouch connects to the air passages, this appears to be unlikely. When breeding, the pouch and neck turn bright orange and the upper thighs reddish. Their dark grey legs are often stained white with uric acid as they commonly defecate on them. This is believed to be a cooling measure, as the evaporation lowers their body temperature offering relief when temperatures are uncomfortably high. Their long, wedge-shaped bills are very thick and yellowish.

The plumage is mostly dark grey, except for the white collar ruff with the red skin on the neck showing through, the off-white or pale grey abdomen and undertail feathers, and the pale leading edges of each wing. Their large outstretched wings are perfectly adapted for soaring on thermals. In flight, they can be recognized by their pale plumage below (abdomen and under tail feathers) and their tendency to retract their necks, like herons . Males and females look alike. Juveniles Immature birds can be identified by their duller upper plumage, completely dark wings, narrower bills, and thicker down on the head and neck. They also have more feathers around the neck. Similar Species: In flight, Adjutants can be distinguished from other storks by the fact that they retract their necks in flight - like herons , for example, while most other stork species fly with their necks outstretched. The Greater Adjutant could only be confused with the Lesser Adjutant . However, the Lesser Adjutant is smaller in size and lacks the pendulous neck pouch seen in the Greater Adjutant.

However, in flight, the Lesser Adjutant's folded (retracted) neck can appear like a pouch, possibly resulting in confusion with the Greater Adjutant. The latter also has more massive bill with a straight upper bill edge (culmen), paler head sides, and pale grey greater wing feathers. Breeding / Nesting Greater Adjutants are believed to be monogamous - however, they may not always pair for life. Typically solitary birds, they only form groups during the breeding season. Greater Adjutants breed during the dry season - from October to June, with most eggs being laid between November and January. At the onset of the breeding season, Greater Adjutants congregate at nesting areas in tropical wetlands. They often form small colonies - sometimes including other large waterbirds, such as Pelicans - and several of them will build their nest in the canopy of one single, tall, broad-limbed tree with sparse foliage or in bamboo plantations. Historically, they also nested on cliffs. Prior to nest building, they occupy favored trees and males will claim suitable nesting branches, chasing away competitors.

At this time, they are commonly seen perching on the branch pointing their bill upwards while clattering them; arching their bodies or holding their wings half open and drooped. Males will present twigs to their mates as part of the courtship ritual. Pairs will also perform up-down bobbing motions together. The large platform nest is constructed by both parents out of twigs with an outer layer of bamboo stems, and the shallow top indentation is lined with grasses and leaves. The nest is typically placed at the end of near-horizontal branches or on rocks / cliffs. The female will lay 2 - 3 white eggs at intervals of 1 - 3 days. Both parents share the incubation of the eggs for about 28 - 30 days to hatching. Both parents feed and care for the chicks. During hot weather, the parents are observed spreading out their wings to shade the chicks, and they will also bring water to the nestlings - either for drinking or to cool them down. The chicks leave the nest when they are about 90 - 100 days old. The parents continue to feed them until the young are about five months old.

They breed once a year, although clutches may be replaced if the first one was destroyed. Diet / Feeding Greater Adjutants are mostly scavengers of large carcasses (including human corpses) and within their range, are commonly referred to as "hargila" - meaning bone swallower. As distasteful as this may appear to most, these valuable scavengers of discarded, unburied human corpses and other large carrion are believed to play an important role in preventing the spread of disease. The bald head and neck of these scavengers become rapidly covered with blood and other substances as they feed inside corpses. They are commonly found near human garbage dumps where they often scavenge in mixed flocks. Greater Adjutants are typically observed alone or in small groups stalking around wetlands, lakes or garbage dumps as they search for prey. They have been known to attack and swallow whole wild ducks, mammals (including rodents), large fish, frogs, reptiles (including snakes), and large invertebrates. When hunting in water, they will hold their open beaks underwater, waiting patiently until prey swims between the mandibles (upper and lower bill).

Calls / Vocalizations Greater Adjutants are mostly silent as they lack vocal muscles; however, they have been observed clattering their bills (males, in particular, as they advertise and protect their territories), and also making hissing and moaning sounds. Other (Global) Names Chinese: 大秃鹳 ... Czech: marabu indický, Marabu vetší ... Danish: Adjudant ... Dutch: Indische Maraboe ... Estonian: india marabu (argala) ... Finnish: Aasianmarabu, assaminmarabu ... French: Grand Marabout, Marabout argala ... German: Argala, Argala-Marabu, Grossadjutant, Großer Adjutant, Indischer Marabu ... Italian: Marabu maggiore, Marabù maggiore, Marabù maggiore asiatico ... Japanese: oohagekou ... Norwegian: Storadjutant ... Polish: marabut indyjski ... Russian: Азиатский марабу, большой марабу, Индийский Марабу, Марабу-маргала индийский ...

Slovak: Bocian argala, marabu velký , marabu veľký ... Spanish: Marabú Argala ... Swedish: Större adjutantstork ... Thai: นกตะกราม ... Vietnamese: Già đẫy lớn Relevant Web Resources Adjutant Stork - The Gigantic Crane Adjutant Stork The Gigantic Crane The Adjutant is a large kind of Stork, so called by the English in India and elsewhere "from its comical resemblance to a human figure in a stiff dress pacing slowly on a parade-ground" (Yule & Burnell, Hobson-Jobson, sub voce). Also known as the Gigantic Crane, it belongs to the genus Leptoptilus, of which the members are distinguished by their sad-coloured plumage, their black, scabrous head, and their enormous tawny pouch, which drops, occasionally some 16 inches or more in length, from the lower part of the neck, and is not connected, as was once commonly believed, with the digestive system (see Air-Sacs ).

In many parts of India Leptoptilus dubius, or Leptoptilus argala of some authors, the largest of these birds, the Hargila as Hindus call it, is a most efficient scavenger, sailing aloft at a vast height and descending on the discovery of offal, although frogs and fishes also form part of its diet. It has also been reported to forage for water-snakes using its long bill. This bird familiarly enters the large towns, in many of which on account of its services it is strictly protected from injury, and, having satisfied its appetite, seeks the repose it has earned, sitting with its feet extended in front in a most grotesque attitude. A second and smaller species, Leptoptilus javanicus, the Lesser Adjudant has a more southern and eastern range; while a third, Leptoptilus Crumenifer, of African origin, and often known as the Marabou-Stork, gives its name to the beautifully soft feathers so called. Related to the Adjutant storks are the birds known as Jabirus.

Greater Adjutant - Pictures and facts - Birds @ thewebsiteofeverything.com Fish Greater Adjutant The Greater Adjutant is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It formerly bred in southern Asia, mainly in India, extending east to Borneo, but is now restricted to two small breeding populations; mainly in Assam and Cambodia. Populations disperse widely after the breeding season. This large stork has a massive wedge-shaped bill, a bare head and a distinctive bare neck pouch. During the day, they soar in thermals along with vultures with whom they share the habit of scavenging. Although mainly feeding on carrion and offal, they will sometimes prey on vertebrates. They are named for the stiff military gait when walking on the ground. Large numbers once lived across Asia but have declined to the point of being endangered. The total population in 2008 was estimated at around a thousand.

In the 19th Century, they were especially common in the city of Calcutta, where they were referred to as the Calcutta Adjutant, valued for their service as scavengers and used in the logo of the city municipal c Picture of the Greater Adjutant has been licensed under a GFDL Original source: Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here. Author: Original uploader was Yathin sk at en.wikipedia Permission: GNU Free Documentation License The Greater Adjutant is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Nesting Ecology of the Greater Adjutant Stork in Assam, India The nesting ecology of the Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius), the rarest stork in the world, was studied in the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, India during 1994-97. About 90% of nests were built on the top of the canopy. Storks preferred to nest in compact colonies on large, widely branched trees with thin foliage cover and nearby food sources.

More The Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It formerly bred in southern Asia, mainly in India, extending east to Borneo, but is now restricted to two small breeding populations; mainly in Assam and Cambodia. Populations disperse widely after the breeding season. This large stork has a massive wedge-shaped bill, a bare head and a distinctive bare neck pouch. During the day, they soar in thermals along with vultures with whom they share the habit of scavenging. More Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius - In flight Greater Adjutant Photographer : More During the early 1900s, Greater Adjutants were still reported as common in villages. Now they are found as breeding populations mostly only in Assam and Cambodia, totaling perhaps less than one thousand individuals. One point of good news is that a small breeding population has been recently discovered in the state of Bihar, India. But Assam still holds about 80 percent of the world's population.

More Videos and images Greater adjutant standing on branch This huge stork has a naked pink head, a very thick yellow bill and a low-hanging neck pouch. The neck ruff is white and, other than the pale grey leading edge of each wing, the rest of the greater adjutant’s body is dark grey. Juveniles have a ... More Greater adjutant standing on branch Greater adjutant standing on branchPrint factsheet Facts - Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Ciconiiformes Family Ciconiidae Genus Leptoptilos (1) Size Length: 145 – 150 cm (2) More Phaguni, a greater adjutant found its natural home after one month stay as a special guest at the Assam State Zoo. It was released on 21 March after a grand farewell at Dodora village located 15 kms from Guwahati city, the birth place of the bird, by forest officials of the Assam forest department, Conservationists and the local villagers. More The Greater Adjutant breeds in tropical wetlands.

It builds a stick nest in trees and lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 28-30 days to hatching. It often forms small colonies. The Greater Adjutant, like most of its relatives, feeds mainly on frogs and large insects, but also young birds, lizards and rodents. It will also eat carrion (dead animals) , for which its bare head and neck is an adaptation, and will feed in human refuse dumps. More Greater AdjutantThe Adjutant is found throughout the greater part of India, is rare in the South, but extremely common in part of Northern India, and more especially in Bengal and North-eastern India. I never saw it in the Carnatic nor in Malabar; it is occasionally met with in Mysore, and is not rare in Hyderabad, thence becoming more common and abundant northwards. It spreads through Burmah to the Malayan peninsula. More The last remaining major nesting sites for Greater Adjutant lay in Assam and Cambodia; they are all but gone from their previous stronghold of Myanmar. The Lesser Adjutant lives in much broader area, from India to Indonesia, but is not common anywhere.

As so many other wetland species, both have greatly suffered from disappearance of their natural habitats. The Greater Adjutant is said to be a shy and retiring bird on remote locations, but is much less so near cities. More Newly Discovered Greater Adjutant Stork Population Thriving in Bihar - While the Greater adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius) population of the world is seeing a general decline, a recently discovered population in Bihar has been growing steadily due to effective conservation efforts by Conservation Agencies. More * Greater adjutant stork can grow to six feet tall, with a wingspan of up to eight feet. Lesser adjutant storks grow to four feet tall. * Adjutant storks often live in proximity to human populations, usually to their detriment. A related species, the marabou stork of Africa, is better able to tolerate human disturbance and so is faring better.

More New population of Greater Adjutant stork, worlds rarest, booming in India = 25/06/2008 12:25:34 birds/Adjutant_stork By Sheren Shrestha of the Wildlife Trust of India June 2008: While the world's Greater adjutant stork population is declining, a recently discovered population in Bihar has been growing steadily, says Arvind Mishra, member of the State Wildlife Board. More The Greater Adjutant, Leptoptilos dubius is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It formerly bred in southern Asia from Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka east to Borneo, but is now restricted to two separate small breeding populations; in Assam and Cambodia. In winter, this species migrates south to Vietnam, Thailand and Burma. More Yathin25 April 2007 @ 09:40 pm The Greater Adjutants of Guwahati There aren't many known places in the world to see this bird. Apparently, it was once very common but now down to a few hundred individuals.

Guwahati, the capital of the North-Eastern state of Assam has one of the best known places to see this mysterious bird - it's garbage dump. The fish market at Ulbari is that place. More Picture of Leptoptilos dubius above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution . Original source: Original uploader was Yathin sk at en.wikipedia Author: Original uploader was Yathin sk at en.wikipedia Permission: Some rights reserved Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) - BirdLife species factsheet Click here for more information about the Red List categories and criteria Justification of Red List category This stork is listed as Vulnerable because its population is suspected to be rapidly declining as a result of a variety of threats including hunting pressure, loss of nesting trees, conversion and degradation of wetlands and agricultural changes and intensification. Conservation action is benefiting one key population in Cambodia, but rapid declines are likely to be ongoing elsewhere across the range.

Population size: 5500-10000 Distribution size (breeding/resident): 11,300,000 km2 Country endemic: No EDGE :: Bird Species Information © Benjamin Fitzgerald Overview This tall, incredible bird has an almost prehistoric appearance. Adults can reach heights of 150cm and have enormous wingspans of about 250cm. Its large size and long, wedge-like bill gives it an unmistakable appearance. Mistakenly, people thought this species was good at coexisting with humans because of its ability to scavenge for food in urban areas. However, the wetland and woodland habitat the adjutant requires for breeding has been destroyed and degraded at a rapid rate. The global population is estimated at 800 to 1,200 mature individuals. Despite conservation actions, this number is still thought to be declining and the Greater Adjutant is sliding towards extinction. Urgent Conservation Actions Nest protection schemes must be implemented and pesticide use controlled. Regular monitoring of nesting and feeding sites are needed.

Distribution << Previous (EDGE): Titicaca Grebe Next (EDGE): Western Bristlebird >> Fact The name ‘adjutant’ actually refers to a military rank. It was given to this bird on account of its stiff, marching walk. Media from ARKive Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae The Ciconiidae is the only family belonging to the order Ciconiiformes and is comprised of 19 living species, collectively known as the storks. The Greater Adjutant belongs to a genus of three extant species, which also includes the Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus and the Marabou stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus. The genus has approximately nine extinct members. The tree below shows the evolutionary relationships between this species and all other birds. The colours of the tree indicate EDGE scores with the red shades indicating the higher priority species; the bright red leaves correspond to the top 100 EDGE bird species. Further information on every species can be found by zooming in to its leaf on the tree.

Description Size: 145–150cm This bird is very large, with an equally impressive wingspan of about 250cm. The thick, wedge-shaped bill is typically over 30cm long and pale-grey in colour. The Greater Adjutant has a large, pendulous gular pouch, which hangs from the base of the neck. The plumage of the body is black, grey and off-white. The bare skin of the head and neck is a dirty yellow or flesh colour. Ecology The Greater Adjutant has a wide and varied diet. It sweeps through water with its huge bill, scooping up fish, crustaceans, amphibians, insects and reptiles. The species is often seen at rubbish dumps or abattoirs where it will search out decaying food and carrion. Its intimidating size enables it to take food off other scavengers. During the breeding season it remains within its wetland habitat. Breeding occurs within the dry season, usually from October to June, when access to fish becomes easier as waterbodies dry up. Colonies form at the beginning of the breeding season. Nests are platform-like structures built from bamboo stems and leaves. They are situated in large trees with few leaves.

A clutch of between two to four eggs is laid, which hatch after 30 days. Individuals then migrate to north India at the beginning of the wet season. Habitat This adjutant prefers wetland habitats, including lakes, swamps, pools and rice fields, so long as plenty of fish are available. In particular, it choses waterbodies that are partially dry or that recede in the dry season, which makes access to prey easier. In India the bird is often found close to urban areas, feeding at rubbish dumps and abattoirs. In Cambodia, breeding sites tend to be flooded forest, dry woodlands with nearby pools, wet grassland or mangroves Distribution The species was formerly found in many southern Asian countries. The population declined rapidly in the 20th century and its range is now restricted to parts of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. Endangered Threats Loss of breeding habitat, such as nesting trees, wetlands and mangroves is the main threat to Greater Adjutant. Wetlands are drained and converted to agriculture or developed for urbanisation. Increased use of chemical pesticides at rubbish dumps in India has led to poisoning of birds.

These dumps are being used less and less for the disposal of organic matter, which is a food source for the Greater Adjutant. In Cambodia, local fishermen who use poison to hunt for fish have contaminated some areas of wetland. Disease may be affecting reproductive success in some regions. The species is looked on by some people as a pest and as a result it may suffer persecution. There have been records of juveniles being caught in nets. Conservation Underway The species has been recorded at several national parks and sanctuaries in Assam, India. Awareness raising programmes have been ongoing in this region since 1992. A nest-protection scheme was implemented in Assam, but this has since halted. In Bihar and parts of Assam, India local communities are protecting the nesting birds. An important breeding colony is situated at Prek Toal, in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, Cambodia. Wardens have been permanently employed at the reserve since 2001. Egg and chick poaching from waterbirds has been reduced dramatically to almost 5% of original rates. Another small population occurs within a wildlife sanctuary in the north of Cambodia. The Greater Adjutant has featured in materials promoting conservation in Laos and Cambodia.

Conservation Proposed The occurrence of the adjutant in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar needs to be investigated. Further information on the species migratory habits and the threats faced in different regions is needed. Nest-protection schemes need to be employed at breeding sites, particularly those engaging local community members. All the nesting sites should be monitored on a regular basis. Control the use of pesticides at feeding sites. Continue protection in the Tonle Sap Reserve. Legislation to conserve the species in this area needs to be produced. Encourage poachers in Cambodia to take up alternative livelihoods. Reduce mortality of chicks by checking breeding sites and rescuing birds that have fallen from nests. Links Birdlife International species factsheet References Ali, S. and S. D. Ripley (1978). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan 1 (2 ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 105–107. BirdLife International (2001) Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Leptoptilos dubius.

Downloaded from on 17/07/2013. Choudhury, A. 2000. The birds of Assam. Gibbon Books & WWF-India, Guwahati, India. 240pp. Choudhury, A. 2008. Counting large gatherings of globally threatened Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius. Indian Birds 4(4): 133-135. Clements, T. J., O’Kelly, H. and Sun, V. (2007) Monitoring of Large Waterbirds at Prek Toal, Tonle Sap Great Lake, 2001-2007. Clements, T.J., Garrett, L., Tan, S., Kong, K.S., Pech, B., Thong, S. and Rours, V. (2007) Bird nest protection programme in the Northern Plains 2003-2007 Elliott, A. (1992). Ciconiidae. In Del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J.

Handbook of the Birds of the World 1. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 436–465. Hancock, Kushlan and Kahl (1992). Storks, Ibises, and Spoonbills of the World. Academic Press. Mishra, A. and Mandal, J. N. (2009) Discovery of a breeding ground of the Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius and their conservation in the floodlands of Bihar, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 106(2): 190-197. Rahmani, A. R., Narayan, G., and Rosalind, L. (1990). Status of the Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) in the Indian Subcontinent. Colonial Waterbirds, 139-142 Sibley, C. G., and Ahlquist, J. E. (1991) Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution. Yale University Press. Singha, H., Rahmani, A.R., Couller, M.C.

and Javed, S. (2002) Nesting ecology of the greater adjutant stork in Assam, India. Waterbirds, 25(2): 214 - 220. Singha, H. and Rahmani, A. R. (2006) Ecology, population and conservation of Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius in Assam, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 103(2-3): 264-269. Singha, H., Goswami, S. K., Phukan, R. and Talukdar, B. K. (2006) Rehabilitation of captive-reared Greater Adjutants Leptoptilos dubius in Assam. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 103(2-3): 315-320. Acknowledgements Text compiled by Michelle Harrison. Factchecked by Anwaruddin Choudhury.

if you can provide new information to update this species account or to correct any errors, please email us at info@edgeofexistence.org Forum comments Meet The Adjutant Storks Meet The Adjutant Storks ©2006 Harri Vainola In Assam, the far North-Eastern corner of India, lives one of the the largest and rarest of the storks, the Greater Adjutant Stork, together with it's smaller cousin, the Lesser Adjutant. These are endangered species; only a thousand Greater Adjutants, and 5000 Lesser Adjutants are left, and the populations are declining. As I planned my Indian journey, finding these remarkable birds was high on my agenda, as long as I could meet them without causing disturbance. The last remaining major nesting sites for Greater Adjutant lay in Assam and Cambodia; they are all but gone from their previous stronghold of Myanmar. The Lesser Adjutant lives in much broader area, from India to Indonesia, but is not common anywhere. As so many other wetland species, both have greatly suffered from disappearance of their natural habitats.

The Greater Adjutant is said to be a shy and retiring bird on remote locations, but is much less so near cities. The species is essentially a scavenger, although they do catch some live pray also, as they sway their great beak from side to side in the water, much like an enormous spoonbill. This scavenging habit brings them in numbers close to human habitats, particularly outside the nesting season, and it is these 'city adjutants', that can be photographed without too much stress for the birds, as they are more custom to human presence. The Greater Adjutant, Leptoptilos dubius, must be one of the most striking-looking birds in the world; it is an enormous stork, standing up to 1,5 m (five feet) tall, and it's mighty beak gives it strangely human proportions; an Adjutant standing on a distant rice paddy on a misty morning, can be mistaken for a human. This is not that apparent from the photographs, but on two occasions, my local guide dismissed a distant Adjutant as a farmer!

I was spellbound from the first time I saw this giant bird up close; I find they have a special aura around them, as they stand there quietly, unlike any creature I have seen. Despite of their imposing size, they come off as gentle beings, living in harmony with their fellow beings. It has been reported, that they sometimes steal food from other birds, being scavengers; I saw no evidence of such behaviour. In fact, the Greater Adjutants appeared to me as one of the least aggressive large carnivores I have seen; in no occasion, did they make an effort to take food from the much smaller birds, walking just in front of them. Other birds did not appear to see them as a threat, either; I watched a Little Egret stand happily hunting, practically straight under an Adjutant's beak. It didn't seem to occur to the Egret at all, that it would have been a beak-sized breakfast for the Adjutant. GREATER ADJUTANTS BY BURNING REFUSE. Compare their size to the foreground House Crows. How to identify a Lesser Adjutant: Top of the head is white, and most birds tend to have much more neck-hair than the Greater Adjutants.

Breeding birds are said to have red color in the beak area; the birds I saw, all had a pink, rather that red, stripe along their upper beak (the bird in the nest-image also has this, but it's rather weak). The Lesser Adjutant, Leptoptilos javanicus, is not a scavenger, but a bird of prey; the menu consists mainly of fish, frogs, and reptiles, even snakes. They don't congregate near cities in the scale the Greater Adjutants often do; some birds are seen, though. As I was searching the countryside with a guide, we came to large tree near a private farm; high up in the canopy, an unmistakable figure of an Adjutant was seen on a nest. I was standing on a small road with some light traffic, so I felt, that I was not harassing the bird. As I took a closer look with a camera, a group of farmers came to work on the field; one walked right underneath the tree, and the bird did not seem to notice the farmer in any way; obviously she was used to them.

Encouraged by this, I lowered myself to the field, and took some photographs; not much of a shot, but it was, after all, a Lesser Adjutant at home; this would not come across too often. I sat on a roadside for a good while, looking through a long lens; she (I presume she was a she) looked ever so happy, while tending her young. LESSER ADJUTANT ON SUNNY FIELD Identifying such conspicuous birds should not be difficult! These two species are so rare, though, that they are sometimes misidentified. The Greater Adjutant is, of course, the larger of the two; Lesser Adjutant is not much taller than a White Stork. How to identify a Greater Adjutant: A large, hanging, orange chest-pouch is the most famous feature of an adult bird; in some birds, though, this pouch is either partly, or totally hidden behind the chest-feathers. For example, the bird in the Meet Greater Adjutant-photo doesn't appear to have a pouch; after he stepped to the full view, though, a lower part of the pouch could be seen peaking behind the chest feathers.

You may notice a parting in the Greater Adjutant's feathers at this position, if you look closely. They also have an equally bright neck-pouch. The beak is wider than the Lesser Adjutant's, and it has a dark area in front of the eyes. The overall plumage color is dark bluish grey; Lesser Adjutants are more black. Juvenile birds have hairier beaks and necks, and they tend to have less light patches on their wings. THE SENTINEL Later on a day, as we strolled past the site again, I also briefly saw her spouse, as he was leaving the nest, having provided a much-welcomed meal for the family. I was told, that at least this nesting-tree was protected by the government; so there is a good chance, that the little one on the photograph above, has safely grown up to join the far too few-numbered Adjutants of Northern India. Good luck for the young one.

Question: Which bird is also known as the 'Adjutant Bird'?
Answer: STORK